RushnRockt said: txrandom said: geo123 said: Also remember that you must be travelling to/from countries where Global Entry is useful. For instance, if you travel to/from Canada, you need Nexus, not Global Entry.

This is incorrect. You can use Global Entry when returning to the US from Canada.

It's possible that he meant places other than airports. Then he is correct.Right, the only time that GOES is useful when you are entering the US from Canada is when you go through customs at a US airport. If you cross the border in your car, you need NEXUS. Likewise, if you are flying to the US through a major Canadian city, you will go through customs in that city in Canada and will need NEXUS, not GOES.

It also goes without saying that when you are entering Canada, you need NEXUS, not GOES.

geo123

Happy Member

posted: Jan. 8, 2013 @ 1:16p

bharatiya said: geo123 said: bytem3 said: Has anyone been hit with a credit report pull (soft or hard) just from entering information on their precheck page (not from applying for the card)?Yes, I did not enter my SSN but still got a soft inquiry from CreditCards.com on my TransUnion report (they don't have to have your SSN to pull credit).Why did you enter the correct name and address if you were only trying to see the offers?I knew what offers were there and was trying to apply.

It's just a soft inquiry anyway.

DarthEnol

Senior Member

posted: Jan. 8, 2013 @ 1:29p

DAMN IT!!! I should have pulled the trigger this morning...it's gone now. All I get are Cap One offers...

bigdinkel

Senior Member - 1K

posted: Jan. 8, 2013 @ 2:56p

I called AMEX and they confirmed my 100k bonus. I would do it before activation.

RushnRockt

Senior Member - 4K

posted: Jan. 8, 2013 @ 3:04p

bigdinkel said: I called AMEX and they confirmed my 100k bonus. I would do it before activation.

If you already got the card, activation or not, you got the ding, it doesn't matter.

txrandom

Member

posted: Jan. 8, 2013 @ 3:36p

geo123 said: RushnRockt said: txrandom said: geo123 said: Also remember that you must be travelling to/from countries where Global Entry is useful. For instance, if you travel to/from Canada, you need Nexus, not Global Entry.

This is incorrect. You can use Global Entry when returning to the US from Canada.

It's possible that he meant places other than airports. Then he is correct.Right, the only time that GOES is useful when you are entering the US from Canada is when you go through customs at a US airport. If you cross the border in your car, you need NEXUS. Likewise, if you are flying to the US through a major Canadian city, you will go through customs in that city in Canada and will need NEXUS, not GOES.

It also goes without saying that when you are entering Canada, you need NEXUS, not GOES.

From the Global Entry website, Global Entry is a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) program that allows expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travelers upon arrival in the United States. Thus obtaining Global Entry provides zero benefit when entering a foreign country like Mexico or Canada. But Global Entry still provides benefit when returning to the United States from Canada or Mexico. At border crossings the Global Entry card can be used to return to the United States and allows access to NEXUS/SENTRI lines. In major Canadian and other airports that provide US border preclearance, Global Entry can be used as well. More information can be found here. I've traveled from YYC to IAH and used Global Entry just fine. Also, GOES is the Global Online Enrollment System and distinct from the Global Entry program.

ucfzf10

Senior Member

posted: Jan. 8, 2013 @ 4:01p

LaChupacabraj said: Does anyone have a Gold screenshot? TIAHere you go.

txrandom said: From the Global Entry website, Global Entry is a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) program that allows expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travelers upon arrival in the United States. Thus obtaining Global Entry provides zero benefit when entering a foreign country like Mexico or Canada.I don't understand what you are agreeing or disagreeing with. My point is that if you frequently travel to and from Canada, you need NEXUS, not GE. NEXUS will expedite your entry into Canada, while GE will not. NEXUS will expedite your entry into the US from Canada, while GE generally will not.

But Global Entry still provides benefit when returning to the United States from Canada or Mexico. At border crossings the Global Entry card can be used to return to the United States and allows access to NEXUS/SENTRI lines.http://www.globalentry.gov/faq.html#11 "Global Entry members, who wish to drive their vehicle in the SENTRI lanes, must register their vehicle with CBP and schedule an appointment at a SENTRI enrollment center to have a 7-point vehicle inspection conducted. For more information on SENTRI and the location of SENTRI enrollment centers, please go to http://www.sentri.gov. There are no additional requirements for a member to use the NEXUS lanes coming into the U.S. However, Global Entry cards will not be valid for entry into Canada via the NEXUS lanes and kiosks"

Also, GOES is the Global Online Enrollment System and distinct from the Global Entry program.That's a fair point.

Signed up for the Gold card, does it automatically show up in your online account? I already have a AMEX blue card, so I didn't create a user after approval.

arkleseizure

Frivolous Member

posted: Jan. 8, 2013 @ 5:17p

geo123 said: You also get access to Fine Hotels and Rewards (FHR), which, depending on your travel pattern, can be enormously valuable or completely useless. As I've previously posted, FHR is very valuable if you stay at luxury hotels that participate in FHR and have very short stays there (1-2 nights) during high occupancy periods. If you do not, FHR is unlikely to work for you.

Thanks for the clarification on TripIt Pro; I assumed it was not included anymore but had not researched it. I will have to check out the FHR program, which I have not used as of yet, but I had received some positive feedback on it from others.

For Global Entry, I thought if your family members where travelling with you, they could essentially cut the line at immigration (YMMV on angry passengers attacking them); obviously they can't use the machine. Has never mattered for me but I thought I recalled reading that when I signed up; if that's not true its probably only useful to international business travelers. I love the benefit (as I don't check bags), but it also does you less good when you have checked bags as you still have to wait for them after going through the immigration line, so you get potentially no benefit.

As an update to everyone on the YMMV nature of the airline reimbursement for gift cards, I have used the credit to successfully get reimbursed for $200 AA gift cards for the last 3 years (in one $200 charge at a time). Each time the credit has posted to my account in 3 or 4 days. I cannot speak to the ability to get GC purchases credited back with the other airlines.

txrandom

Member

posted: Jan. 8, 2013 @ 5:37p

geo123 said: I don't understand what you are agreeing or disagreeing with. My point is that if you frequently travel to and from Canada, you need NEXUS, not GE. NEXUS will expedite your entry into Canada, while GE will not. NEXUS will expedite your entry into the US from Canada, while GE generally will not.

I'm disagreeing with the bolded text. GE will expedite your entry into the US from Canada just as NEXUS will. I don't want fellow users to believe that getting Global Entry won't help with travel from Canada to the US especially when they can get Global Entry for free. NEXUS would be ideal since it works both ways, but most users likely won't sign up for it since it's not covered.

Sesq

Senior Member

posted: Jan. 8, 2013 @ 5:52p

arkleseizure said: For Global Entry, I thought if your family members where travelling with you, they could essentially cut the line at immigration (YMMV on angry passengers attacking them); obviously they can't use the machine. Has never mattered for me but I thought I recalled reading that when I signed up; if that's not true its probably only useful to international business travelers.

Officially no. But YMMV with infants. Looks like it was more favorable while it was still in the pilot stage.

I just paid cash for my application and thought of getting it for my wife with the credit, but I don't see me springing for my two kids, so my wife will probably pass on it as we don't live in a city with a major airport in it.

alanmax

Senior Member - 2K

posted: Jan. 8, 2013 @ 6:17p

Does anybody know how to retreive a saved application?I filled the first of three parts today then saved it, it stated that I would rec. an email with a link to finish but that never came and it was about 10AM (EST).Looked all over the AMEX site but nothing.Thanks!

KYBOSH

Senior Member - 2K

posted: Jan. 8, 2013 @ 6:27p

How did this promo die in less than 24 hrs.???

foglem

Member

posted: Jan. 8, 2013 @ 7:07p

Fatwallet effect and AMEX saying HOW MUCH ARE WE GIVING THEM!?!?

johnmayer

Member

posted: Jan. 8, 2013 @ 9:39p

Anybody have a screen shot for the Platinum application page?

kwest

Ancient Member

posted: Jan. 8, 2013 @ 10:18p

foglem said: Fatwallet effect and AMEX saying HOW MUCH ARE WE GIVING THEM!?!?

More like the SD/FT effect...

arifhussain

New Member

posted: Jan. 8, 2013 @ 11:16p

I think it is harder but still a good deal.

pthor1231

Senior Member - 1K

posted: Jan. 9, 2013 @ 1:01a

Sesq said: geo123 said: - $100 reimbursement for Global Entry fee (potentially a pain to get to the interview if you don't live near a major airport, but very useful nonetheless)This can be useful or completely worthless. It's not just about getting the interview. First, if you don't travel internationally, there is no reason to waste your time with Global Entry.

Global entry can be used to get you in TSA Pre-Check.

This can be a great benefit of GE, or a total flop, it just depends on what airport you are flying from frequently, and which airlines. Having GE saved me an hour wait in security one busy day at CLT when I happened to be flying on US Air because they were so much cheaper than Delta, who I have platinum (and thus Precheck for DL). I was able to add my known traveler number to my US Air ticket and go through the pre-check line in about 2 minutes.

Implementations of it elsewhere, unfortunately in ATL, suck ass.

sjwaste

Broke Member

posted: Jan. 9, 2013 @ 6:07a

My home airport is PWM, so I've never had a security line longer than 10 minutes (or about 20 people, we move slower here). We do fly to visit family in hub and other major cities, though - PHL, PHX, SAN are all guaranteed once a year for us at least. I need to look into whether an infant can piggyback with me. If that's the case, I'll sign up for GE and pay the $100 for my wife, especially since we plan to attempt international travel in the fall.

anks329

Member

posted: Jan. 9, 2013 @ 8:15a

sjwaste said: My home airport is PWM, so I've never had a security line longer than 10 minutes (or about 20 people, we move slower here). We do fly to visit family in hub and other major cities, though - PHL, PHX, SAN are all guaranteed once a year for us at least. I need to look into whether an infant can piggyback with me. If that's the case, I'll sign up for GE and pay the $100 for my wife, especially since we plan to attempt international travel in the fall.

For Global Entry, each person using it must have their own Global Entry card. Previously children could not sign up for it, and families couldn't use it. They have gotten rid of the age requirement now. So, if your infant has a passport for international travel, they can sign up for global entry as well.

Bagofchips

Senior Member - 2K

posted: Jan. 9, 2013 @ 11:44a

My recall is AMEX refunds annual fee prorated, at least they did on a gold card of mine a couple years ago. So the $450 fee is not as onerous if you spend fast. Maybe they don't fulfill until month 4 but even so that's like really only $150 of fees for $1000 in bonus.

newbietx

Happy Member

posted: Jan. 9, 2013 @ 2:35p

ucfzf10 said: moledude said: Does anyone know for the airport lounge access privilege, can you bring guests with you?Yes. See the terms & conditions. The Platinum member's spouse and children under the age of 21 or up to two companions may enter the club as complimentary guests.

I swear I also remember seeing this, but now I cant find it anywhere.

Got this from the AMEX site now:

After you enroll, your membership in Priority Pass Select will provide you entry to over 600 international and domestic lounges in 100 countries, regardless of which carrier or class you are flying. Guests may enter with you for a fee of $27 per person. This is one of the many great travel benefits on your Card. Enter your American Express user ID and password, check the I agree box to signify you have reviewed, understand, and agree to the Terms and conditions (click to view) below, and click the Verify button.

No mention of spouse and kids entering for free. Does anyone have the link to what is posted above that spouse and children under 21 can enter for free.

They keep changing the terms and conditions. Now it says "...may join you" the as complimentary guests is now removed from the wording.

Yoksel

Senior Member - 1K

posted: Jan. 9, 2013 @ 3:07p

newbietx said: I am confused. Can someone please help me understand.

Are Platinum Card Access and Priority Pass Select two different things?

All Platinum travel related perks can be found hereYes, they are different. Platinum Card Access applies only to Delta, AA and US lounges, and the first two only if you're flying with them that day. Priority Pass has an agreement with most of the lounges in the world. The only thing that is confusing me is that most cards that give Priority/Lounge Club membership include a limited number of free visits (2-3). I can't believe AMEX Platinum gives unlimited Priority Pass visits.

geo123

Happy Member

posted: Jan. 9, 2013 @ 3:16p

Yoksel said: Yes, they are different. Platinum Card Access applies only to Delta, AA and US lounges, and the first two only if you're flying with them that day.Correct. If you enter a participating lounge with your Platinum card, you can bring in your entire family or two guests for free.

Priority Pass has an agreement with most of the lounges in the world.Don't we wish. In fact, domestically, you will hardly ever find a participating lounge (also remember that United clubs cannot be accessed with Priority Pass paid for by US-based credit cards -- the card will say Priority Pass Select or Lounge Pass to show that United clubs are excluded). The value of PP is when you travel internationally, but even then you'll only have access to a relatively small number of lounges out there.

The only thing that is confusing me is that most cards that give Priority/Lounge Club membership include a limited number of free visits (2-3). I can't believe AMEX Platinum gives unlimited Priority Pass visits.Practically all premium cards give unlimited Priority Pass visits to the primary member. Some even include guest visits.

You are thinking of Priority Pass cards issued by regular cards without an annual fee. Those cards do only give you a limited version of PP, which either includes no free visits or includes very few free ones.

geo123

Happy Member

posted: Jan. 9, 2013 @ 3:20p

newbietx said: Are Platinum Card Access and Priority Pass Select two different things?Yes, they are completely different. With Delta, AA and US, you enter their lounges by presenting your same day boarding pass with the same airline (with US, it can be any airline), your Platinum Card and your ID.

Priority Pass is a completely separate program and comes with a PP card. You enter a participating lounge with your PP card (which looks like this: http://www.prioritypass.com/ but yours will have a big "SELECT" logo on it or it'll say "Lounge Pass" instead to show that you can't use it to enter United lounges) and your ID -- it doesn't matter what airline you are flying.

newbietx

Happy Member

posted: Jan. 9, 2013 @ 4:11p

Geo123 & Yoksel thank you. I spent some more time on the website and found out the same. Appreciate the responses. Too bad the stateside lounges (except US air) are specifically for flying on those airlines only (bummer). And the international ones will not take the spouse and kids complimentary, bummer again. Tad bit disapointed but I think I will live.

Got my gold card today (next day air) that was fast! No mention of the 50k points though in the welcome package or online when I activated the card.

sjwaste

Broke Member

posted: Jan. 9, 2013 @ 8:25p

Got my card today, very fast. Any idea if the MR bonus should be in the paperwork somewhere? It's not mentioned in mine, but I did take screen shots when I signed up. I'm really considering prepaying another quarter at day care to hit the $3000 spend req fast and take advantage of the 30% BA Avios bonus before that runs out. Do the MR bonus points generally hit the account instantly? I thought I read somewhere else that they did, but I obviously don't have first hand experience.

Yoksel

Senior Member - 1K

posted: Jan. 9, 2013 @ 9:00p

sjwaste said: Got my card today, very fast. Any idea if the MR bonus should be in the paperwork somewhere? It's not mentioned in mine, but I did take screen shots when I signed up. I'm really considering prepaying another quarter at day care to hit the $3000 spend req fast and take advantage of the 30% BA Avios bonus before that runs out. Do the MR bonus points generally hit the account instantly? I thought I read somewhere else that they did, but I obviously don't have first hand experience.MRs normally post with the next statement after the statement with the charges so on average it could be 1.5 months. You can call and ask to expedite after the statement closes, especially after you make your payment. However, unless you're planning to close the card quickly and request partial annual fee refund, I wouldn't be in a hurry to take advantage of the BA bonus. Obviously can't guarantee anything but 40-50% offers have been quite frequent lately and you have a full year ahead to redeem.

sjwaste

Broke Member

posted: Jan. 9, 2013 @ 9:10p

Yoksel said: sjwaste said: Got my card today, very fast. Any idea if the MR bonus should be in the paperwork somewhere? It's not mentioned in mine, but I did take screen shots when I signed up. I'm really considering prepaying another quarter at day care to hit the $3000 spend req fast and take advantage of the 30% BA Avios bonus before that runs out. Do the MR bonus points generally hit the account instantly? I thought I read somewhere else that they did, but I obviously don't have first hand experience.MRs normally post with the next statement after the statement with the charges so on average it could be 1.5 months. You can call and ask to expedite after the statement closes, especially after you make your payment. However, unless you're planning to close the card quickly and request partial annual fee refund, I wouldn't be in a hurry to take advantage of the BA bonus. Obviously can't guarantee anything but 40-50% offers have been quite frequent lately and you have a full year ahead to redeem.

Good advice. Thanks. I'm just hoping that the 100k bonus works smoothly since it's not in the paperwork I got in the mail. I'm very glad I took screen shots during the process.

parmenides

Senior Member - 1K

posted: Jan. 10, 2013 @ 8:00a

sjwaste said: Yoksel said: sjwaste said: Got my card today, very fast. Any idea if the MR bonus should be in the paperwork somewhere? It's not mentioned in mine, but I did take screen shots when I signed up. I'm really considering prepaying another quarter at day care to hit the $3000 spend req fast and take advantage of the 30% BA Avios bonus before that runs out. Do the MR bonus points generally hit the account instantly? I thought I read somewhere else that they did, but I obviously don't have first hand experience.MRs normally post with the next statement after the statement with the charges so on average it could be 1.5 months. You can call and ask to expedite after the statement closes, especially after you make your payment. However, unless you're planning to close the card quickly and request partial annual fee refund, I wouldn't be in a hurry to take advantage of the BA bonus. Obviously can't guarantee anything but 40-50% offers have been quite frequent lately and you have a full year ahead to redeem.

Good advice. Thanks. I'm just hoping that the 100k bonus works smoothly since it's not in the paperwork I got in the mail. I'm very glad I took screen shots during the process.

I've done dozens of AMEX signups for MR points... bonus MR offer is never indicated in the paperwork you receive with the card. What is more important is that the offer code was associated with your application when you applied. If you saw the offer on the splash screen at the end of your app you should be good to go. Online CS can also confirm - just send them a secure message.

geo123

Happy Member

posted: Jan. 10, 2013 @ 9:14a

newbietx said: Geo123 & Yoksel thank you. I spent some more time on the website and found out the same. Appreciate the responses. Too bad the stateside lounges (except US air) are specifically for flying on those airlines only (bummer). And the international ones will not take the spouse and kids complimentary, bummer again. Tad bit disapointed but I think I will live.

Thanks again!It used to be way better. A few years ago Priority Pass had most of the domestic lounges participating in the program, so PP membership used to be phenomenal. At the time that BOA rolled out its Accolades card a few years ago and I was given one, I remember complaining to my banker that the unlimited PP membership that came with it didn't apply to the rest of the family. He told me to just enroll all of them individually and assured me that BOA would cover the cost, which they did. So, my entire family, including our little ones, ended up with their own PP cards, which was quite nice.

Then, in '09, Delta/NWA pulled out of PP. Then, in '11 United felt that its merger with Continental gave it enough leverage to launch its own Club access program, so they pulled out of the AMEX Platinum lounge program and out of Priority Pass (the regular Priority Pass still gives you access to United's lounges; the version of PP that's paid for by US-based credit cards does not). I have no idea whether the United strategy is paying off, as for a while now it has been quite easy to get the United Club card without paying the first year's annual fee. What I do know, however, is that United pulling out of AMEX Platinum and PP dealt a severe blow to both, at which time AMEX Platinum was forced to roll out its $200/year miscellaneous airline fee reimbursement and complimentary Priority Pass Select memberships to compensate people for their loss of United.

By the way, if you want United club access but want a card that offers benefits that are similar to AMEX Platinum, the Palladium card (both the United club card and the Palladium cards are issued by Chase, as United affiliated itself with Chase and is staying away from AMEX) is your best bet. The Palladium card gives you a full United club membership (not just access to the club but an actual membership) and a number of other benefits that are designed to compete directly with AMEX Platinum. Personally, I don't think that they are there yet, as they still don't have a good alternative to AMEX's FHR, but they are close and some people do like them more, as some benefits are certainly better (and the card itself is much, much nicer, if you care about that).

There are a number of other AMEX Platinum competitors, such as the BOA Accolades card (although, once BOA turned it over to Merrill Lynch, its benefits were heavily diluted, but at least BOA/Merrill pays your annual fee every year), the Citi Chairman card (which I understand was recently relaunched) and a few others that I can't think of right now.

sjwaste

Broke Member

posted: Jan. 10, 2013 @ 11:49a

geo123 said:

There are a number of other AMEX Platinum competitors, such as the BOA Accolades card (although, once BOA turned it over to Merrill Lynch, its benefits were heavily diluted, but at least BOA/Merrill pays your annual fee every year), the Citi Chairman card (which I understand was recently relaunched) and a few others that I can't think of right now.

Citi has new $500 card, the Thank You Prestige. The benefits don't really seem to be that much above and beyond the Thank You Premier - same bonus points for miles flown and all, which is a cool benefit. No lounge access with that card, but it's also far less expensive at $125/yr.

Presuming that those shopping for these cards are travelers, the AMEX Platinum is really only $250/yr net of the $200 airline expense credit. But even in the $500 range, it's hard to make a compelling case for other cards except the Palladium, a $600 card.

I think what it comes down to for the AMEX Platinum are three factors:

1. Will you fly an airline where you don't have status enough to eat up that $200 credit? This presumes we cannot rely on being reimbursed for expenses that aren't actually incidentals, as some are doing now.2. Do you shop AMEX's partners? If so, FHR is a really nice benefit.3. Are your home airport or frequent destinations served by US, AA or DL? Especially with US, since you can use their lounge even if you're flying on a different carrier.

If it's yes to all three, or maybe 1 + either of the other two, it's hard to make a case for any other card for a traveler. Some also say the Palladium card uses a better concierge service, but I can't really speak to that.

What's funniest to me is that despite the large A/F, I wouldn't really use any of these cards for my daily spending, so it's really a straight comparison of whether the card benefits cover the cost of the annual fee. I basically only wanted the AMEX Platinum for the card benefits and waited for this offer to pull the trigger, but most of my purchases are still going through the Fidelity Investment Rewards card for 2% back.

newbietx

Happy Member

posted: Jan. 10, 2013 @ 12:41p

Great info, thanks Geo123.

sjwaste you make some good points. If it was not for the 100K MR promo I don't think I would have got this card in spite of the many features. $450 AF is steep. Perhaps there is a way to recoup $400 of it with the $200 airline incidental reimubursement since it is $200 per calendar year, could we use it for $200 this year + $200 next year and cancel it before Jan 6th or so to avoid the next annual fee?

Of course if AMEX bills the AF 30 days in advance of the anniversary date then this won't work

ucfzf10

Senior Member

posted: Jan. 10, 2013 @ 1:02p

newbietx said: Of course if AMEX bills the AF 30 days in advance of the anniversary date then this won't work AMEX will refund a prorated amount of the AF when you close the card.

flwsoldier

Ancient Member

posted: Jan. 10, 2013 @ 2:04p

anyone know how the bonus points translate into dollars and cents for airline tickets? I signed into their rewards site, but it looks like since I don't have 5000 points yet, I can't gauge how many points are needed for a particular round-trip ticket. I assume I want to use 'pay with points'.

would 5000 points equal $50 in airfare?

geo123

Happy Member

posted: Jan. 10, 2013 @ 2:20p

sjwaste said: If it's yes to all three, or maybe 1 + either of the other two, it's hard to make a case for any other card for a traveler.You mean for the money, right? If so, I completely agree.

The Centurion offers benefits that are head and shoulders above those of AMEX Platinum, but the same can be said about its annual fee, especially now that they've limited the number of authorized users (the authorized user loophole used to be one that plenty of people took advantage of, as the AU annual fee was relatively small compared to the benefits) and increased annual fees.

Some also say the Palladium card uses a better concierge service, but I can't really speak to that.Personally, I can't stand AMEX Platinum's concierge. They are always very courteous but they can't handle even some of the more simple requests. To me, AMEX Platinum's concierge isn't one of its high points.

What's funniest to me is that despite the large A/F, I wouldn't really use any of these cards for my daily spending, so it's really a straight comparison of whether the card benefits cover the cost of the annual fee. I basically only wanted the AMEX Platinum for the card benefits and waited for this offer to pull the trigger, but most of my purchases are still going through the Fidelity Investment Rewards card for 2% back.Precisely. I always get these "premium" cards for their benefits but never put any purchases through them, as their reward structure is almost universally pathetic.

Having said that, there are situations where putting purchases on AMEX Platinum does make financial sense. If you are a frequent traveler, for instance, you can often easily get 2 to 2.5 cents per MR and more. If a lot of your charges are business expenses and you either get reimbursed for them or deduct them from your taxes, you avoid tax issues by using cards that issue MR's (which you then transfer to frequent flyer miles) or frequent flyer miles.

RushnRockt

Senior Member - 4K

posted: Jan. 10, 2013 @ 4:04p

flwsoldier said: anyone know how the bonus points translate into dollars and cents for airline tickets? I signed into their rewards site, but it looks like since I don't have 5000 points yet, I can't gauge how many points are needed for a particular round-trip ticket. I assume I want to use 'pay with points'.

would 5000 points equal $50 in airfare?

You would transfer the points into the airline program of your choice and then use them for the routes/dates you are interested. You can find out how many miles (points) you will need for various tickets right now. Converting them to dollar value is harder, as the ticket pricing changes.

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